[John Feeney]

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The Pilgrims left England to avoid religious persecution. First they went to Holland, but after settling in that liberal place, found themselves again threatened (by the possibility of encroachment and control by aggressive foreign powers). Holland was no longer considered the secure safe haven. So they went across the sea. Was it a just thing, that they sought freedom from religious persecution by colonizing the New World? What followed after was inevitable due to the continued influx of Englishmen and Europeans. Resources, including land, became increasingly contested, and the stronger and more numerous side won.

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I assume you're not suggesting the European settlers were justified in murdering and taking the land of those who were here first since they did so to flee religious persecution, and since the results seemed inevitable given their determination to settle here. I gather you're just demonstrating that it's explainable. Yes, we can explain it, but I don't think we can justify it.

While it's true justice is merely a human construct, we can do our best to apply it. It doesn't seem we've done so here.

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Yes it's tragic but I don't think the settlers or pioneers could have afforded to just pack up and go back home acros the sea. It cost many everything they had just to make the initial journey, at great risk and often loss of good health as well.

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Perhaps they could have ceased the migration once it became clear it would impose a grave injustice on the indigenous people here. Surely, though, they might have at least sat down and hashed out more mutually acceptable agreements.

I understand that in a time when many probably thought they were carrying out some sort of manifest destiny, that wouldn't likely have happened. But that doesn't justify it either, I don't think.

Though it's been the way of history, it doesn't mean it's right or that it *should* have been the way of history any more than the fact that people do kill people justifies a given murder. You know?

And certainly, we've done very, very little to make amends.